Governor's Office Report Shows Strong Public Opposition To Speeding Camera Law

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 30, 2012 5:20PM

Our friends at The Expired Meter obtained a copy of a report from Gov. Pat Quinn's office that indicates nine out of every 10 people in Illinois are not happy with the recently passed Senate Bill 965.

That bill, better known as the Chicago speed camera bill, would allow red light cameras to do double duty and issue speeding tickets to motorists within 1/8 mile of school and park slow zones, and increase the number of cameras in those zones to possibly cover half the city. The Governor’s office has received a total of 224 phone calls, emails or letters from constituents regarding SB965. Only 19 were in support of the bill. The other 205-over 91%-were opposed to the bill and urged the Governor to veto it. Furthermore, received 15 letters (11 opposed, 4 in support), 36 phone calls (35 opposed, 1 in support) and 173 email comments via the Governor’s website (159 opposed, 14 in support). Quinn has promised to to make a decision on signing or vetoing the bill by the end of the month, but has until Feb. 6 to do so. The public sentiment against it may be hard for Quinn to ignore if he plans on signing SB 965 into law.

The Expired Meter previously reported that revenue from red light speeding cameras could eclipse that of the cameras already in place. the Chicago Department of Transportation conducted three separate reports that jibed with TEM's findings. SB 965 also allows speed camera enforcement from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. five school days a week, instead of the current nine hours. At $100 per ticket, that would be an instant and reliable revenue stream for the city coffers, at least short term.